Local Notes: Campaign underway to raise funds for Foxford Riverfest
5th and 6th class pupils from Straide National School with their awards obtained during the recent activity session hosted at the school by Knockmore/Foxford Boxing Club.
Foxford was looking resplendent for the weekend visit of Argentine dignitaries as part of the Admiral William Brown birthday commemoration, much of which was due to the care and hard work of the Foxford Enhancement Group. The group members have done much to tidy and breath new life into less cared for spots in the town and have now issued an appeal for all the town’s people, where possible, to assist them in their work by clearing any weeds that may be growing on the street area near your home.
“It would really help enhance the town and it’s just a little bit of work for everyone,” said a spokesperson for the Foxford Enhancement Group, which is also keen to welcome any new volunteers who would like to become involved in their ongoing caretaking work of the town.
“It's a great way to get out and about and contribute to the community,” said the spokesperson.
You can get in touch with the Foxford Enhancement Group by sending messaging its Facebook page.
A full club meeting of Moy Davitts GAA has been called for this coming Thursday, June 27. The meeting will go ahead in the clubhouse at 8.30pm. All registered club members are invited to attend but anyone who is interested in attending are asked to inform club secretary Bernie Ryder by email in advance at secretary.moydavitts.mayo@gaa.ie.
There was a mixed week of results on the underage football front for Moy Davitts GAA Club. In the East Mayo U14 ‘B’ championship, Moy Davitts were goal-hungry as they beat St Jarlath’s (Ballyhaunis and Eastern Gaels) by 5-8 to 1-14 in Foxford. However, home advantage didn’t carry the same benefits for Moy Davitts in the East Mayo U16‘B’ championship last Thursday, as they suffered a 7-12 to 3-04 loss against Swinford. The under-16s are back in action again this week with a trip to Aghamore on Thursday, June 27 for a 7.30pm throw-in.
Swinford are the opponents for Moy Davitts in the East Mayo minor ‘B’ football championship this Tuesday, June 25 with the game getting underway at 7.30pm while on Wednesday, Moy Davitts are away to Ballintubber at 7pm in Group 2 of the Mayo GAA U12 Summer League.
A free and confidential clinic remains open and available to any homeowner in Foxford or the surrounding area in need of support due to their property being impacted by defective concrete blocks.
Caroline Wilson is employed by Mayo North East Partnership as a Defective Concrete Blocks Community Facilitator and is supporting homeowners through the application process and facilitating access to the relevant support services.
Caroline holds clinics by appointment in Foxford, Ballina, Ballycastle, Belmullet, Crossmolina, Castlebar, Killala and Westport to meet with the public and provide one to one support. These clinics are free of charge and are completely confidential.
Caroline is also reaching out to anyone who may have storage units, a rental property, holiday home or vacant property that is available to rent to homeowners affected by defective concrete blocks.
To book a clinic appointment or if you have any queries, contact Caroline at 087-4828261 or email carolinewilson@mayonortheast.com.
The DCB post is supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, through Mayo County Council.
Congratulations to everyone who was involved in Cruinniú na nÓg on Saturday, June 15. Organised by Admiral Brown CCÉ, the day began with ‘Trad for Tots’ which brought a huge number of young children and their parents to Foxford Leisure Centre for a morning of ceol, céilí, sean-nós and Irish dancing. It was followed by a number of performances ranging from tin whistles to singing to a lively céilí band, culminating in a big session. The children got to try loads of different dance styles and really immerse themselves in their own vibrant culture.
Well done to the house band of Stephen Doherty, Tom Doherty, David Doocey and Marianne Knight, not to mention the dance tutors and also Mayo.ie and Creative Ireland who supported the event.
In advance of the upcoming summer camp it is running at Foxford Leisure Centre, Knockmore/Foxford Boxing Club visited Straide NS recently to provide 22 pupils from 5th and 6th classes the opportunity to participate in the various activities that will be on offer at the summer camp. The session lasted for two hours after which awards were presented to winners in each category.
The non-contact fun-filled summer camp at Foxford Leisure Centre is open to boys and girls aged 6 years and over and will run for six Wednesdays (one day a week) during July and August from 10am to 3pm each day. The dates are July 16, 23 and 30, and August 6, 20 and 27.
The camp will consist of various activities such as soccer, penalty shootouts, basketball, tug of war, athletics, skipping competitions and numerous ball games, staged indoor and outdoor weather permitting. Awards will be presented daily to winners and runners-up in the events and participants who attend the full six days of camp will be eligible to one free day.
Numbers are limited. The fee is €20 per day or €100 for all six days. Contact 086-8373646.
Saturday, August 31, 2024 has been set aside as the date for a Golf Classic at Ballina Golf Club in aid of Moy Davitts GAA Club and to mark the club’s golden anniversary year. Anyone who is interested in entering a team or who might like to help organise the event can express their interest to any club official. Further details will be circulated soon.
The week before that, on Saturday, August 24, Moy Davitts GAA will host a Family Fun Day in Sraith Garbh where the annual Enda Gilmore Blitz will get the proceedings underway. The blitz will be followed by an afternoon of family activities, games, food, music and lots more. Admission is free.
It was another good week of fishing on the Foxford Salmon Anglers’ stretch of the River Moy for the week ending Sunday, June 16. A total of 45 salmon were reported as caught, with prawn, worm and bubble and fly all doing very well. The number compares very favourably with the same week last year. Several of the fish were also released.
Midwest Radio recorded a very special programme from Guiry’s Bar in Foxford which was broadcast last Tuesday night, June 18. Joe Byrne, the popular presenter of , which features all things traditional music, song and Irish language, produced a programme to celebrate the success of the inaugural Cuimsiú competition at this year’s Mayo Fleadh.
Cuimsiú, which means inclusion, was the brainchild of Admiral Brown CCÉ branch member Hannah Dunford and her family, so Joe Byrne visited Foxford with his radio programme to feature some of the competitors who took part in the Fleadh and to interview some of those who helped make it happen, on what was a very special evening. Well done to all.
Congratulations to former player Michael Roache, Knockshanvalley, Straide, who was the winner of the €100 jackpot in last week’s S&F United 50-50 draw.
Tickets for the Mayo GAA Club Development Draw are now available to purchase from Moy Davitts GAA Club at a cost of €100 per ticket. The club is tasked by Mayo Co Board to sell 50 tickets and every ticket sold thereafter returns €90 to the club itself. This is a very important fundraiser to the club which enables it to develop the facilities at Sraith Garbh The following works are planned for the near future and money raised via the above draw would help see those through: construction of a boundary wall/fence, construction of new stand, lighting of training area.
The €100 ticket is valid for six month draws, with a first prize of €10,000 for draws one and six, and a first prize of €5,000 for draws, two, three, four and five, with numerous other valuable prizes on offer too.
Tickets are available from club treasurer Annette Clarke 087-6781500, and at https://www.foireann.ie/user-home or moy-davitts.sumupstore.com.
A campaign is underway to raise funds for Foxford Riverfest, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary with what is intended to be the best festival yet, on the weekend of August 23-25.
A number of new events are planned to be held this year as part of the festival, including at Foxford Leisure Centre and the Admiral Brown Promenade, with a big party to round things off on Sunday 25th. But there will also be the ever-popular and much-loved ‘Candles to the Sea’ on Friday and lots of crafters, stalls, food, children’s activities and music on Saturday.
Money raised in advance of last year’s festival helped to finance superb new crafter stalls, gazebos to provide cover for some performers, PA systems, a fit-out of the festival’s storage area and support for the wonderful community art project – investments that can be used again this year and into the future. But additional funds are required to broaden the festival and so a donations page is now in operation. The organisers want to bridge the town centre with the river by extending the festival not just the extra day (Sunday), but down to the Leisure Centre area as well. This will include a lantern parade linking the town and promenade, led (if funding allows) by some amazing drummers.
If you think you could spare a donation to help to make it a community party weekend to remember, visit www.idonate.ie and search for Foxford Riverfest.
